EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham submit £50m JOINT bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes – but face rejection from relegated Leicester, who wanted £80m EACH just a year ago 

EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham submit £50m JOINT bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes – but face rejection from relegated Leicester, who wanted £80m EACH just a year ago

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The players are two of Leicester’s brightest prospects and unlikely to suffer drop
Tottenham are starting to make moves following appointment of Postecoglou
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Tottenham have launched a joint bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League.

The pair are in demand after contributing 23 goals and 10 assists between them last term in a struggling team, with Newcastle also interested in both, and West Ham and Aston Villa keeping a close eye on Barnes.

it is thought Spurs have made the first move, with the combined offer – believed to be in excess of £50million – set to be rejected by Leicester.

Mail Sport reported on June 8 that Spurs had made the signing of Maddison a priority for this summer, though Newcastle have been following the playmaker closely for the last 12 months, and can offer Champions League football.

Maddison has only a year left on his contract, meaning Leicester must sell him this summer to recover a sizeable fee. The 26-year-old is currently with the England squad preparing for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta on Friday and North Macedonia on Monday.

Though Barnes’ deal does not expire until summer 2025, Leicester’s drop into the Championship means a sharp decline in revenue and player sales are needed to close that gap. Leicester were demanding about £60m for each player individually a year ago but are unlikely to hit those numbers this time.

Meanwhile, Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca has held talks with Leicester about becoming their new manager though Pep Guardiola would like to keep the Italian on his staff.

The Foxes have been without a permanent boss since sacking Brendan Rodgers on April 2. Dean Smith was placed in interim charge for the final eight games of the season but could not keep Leicester up.

Kane genuinely thinks that’: Harry Kane thinks he could be even better if Spurs sign £35m player – journalist

Harry Kane is really keen on the idea of Harry Maguire joining Tottenham as he thinks he could help him improve his game.

That is according to Ben Jacobs who was speaking on Last Word on Spurs about the Manchester United defender.

Kane thinks Maguire could help him

Jacobs shared Kane’s view of his England teammate.

“This may be an indication, in the absence of a Sporting Director, of just how much influence Harry Kane has. Kane is a big fan of Maguire, they’re good friends, they have a good understanding on and off the field,” Jacobs said.

“They get each other and the reason they get each other is because Kane believes that Maguire at his best can be that ball-playing defender who can move the ball quickly and positively. If Maguire is phase one and Kane doesn’t get the ball until phase three or four, Maguire might still be the one who sets it off, even if it goes unnoticed.”

“Sometimes you look at playing something positive, even if it looks simple you can see that they were integral, because they have the speed of thinking and the speed of delivery. Kane genuinely thinks that is the case with Maguire even at 30 and even though he gets caricatured regularly.”

Could help Kane

It sounds outrageous to say that a centre-back could help a striker be more effective, but as Jacobs says, sometimes a quick pass out from the back is what can kickstart an attack.

Ange Postecoglou loves playing out from the defence and having someone like Maguire to play the ball forwards will be a massive help.

Of course, this all depends on Maguire getting back to his best, and that isn’t guaranteed after a torrid 18 months at Old Trafford for the Red Devils’ captain.

Tottenham could try to sign £50m forward and James Maddison this summer – journalist

Journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur could plot a double raid for Leicester City duo Harvey Barnes and James Maddison.

Jacobs spoke on the Last Word On Spurs on Wednesday and discussed Tottenham’s interest in Maddison.

Indeed, TEAMtalk reported yesterday that Newcastle are ‘baulking’ over Leicester’s demands for Maddison, which could leave the door open for Tottenham to sign him.

But it seems that Maddison isn’t the only Leicester player who Spurs are eyeing a potential summer move for.

Tottenham could go for Barnes and Maddison

Jacobs believes Harvey Barnes will emerge as a real possibility for Tottenham over the coming weeks.

Barnes is another player who has excelled at Leicester this season, despite the fact the club have dropped down to the Championship.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

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Tottenham could try to sign £50m forward and James Maddison this summer – journalist

Milo Clay

Thu 15 June 2023 8:15, UK

Journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur could plot a double raid for Leicester City duo Harvey Barnes and James Maddison.

Jacobs spoke on the Last Word On Spurs on Wednesday and discussed Tottenham’s interest in Maddison.

The 26-year-old has emerged as a top target for new boss Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs currently battling it out with Newcastle United for his signature.

Indeed, TEAMtalk reported yesterday that Newcastle are ‘baulking’ over Leicester’s demands for Maddison, which could leave the door open for Tottenham to sign him.

But it seems that Maddison isn’t the only Leicester player who Spurs are eyeing a potential summer move for.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Tottenham could go for Barnes and Maddison

Jacobs believes Harvey Barnes will emerge as a real possibility for Tottenham over the coming weeks.

The journalist stated that Spurs’ interest in Maddison is well-known, but he thinks there could be an opportunity for Postecoglou’s side to target both Leicester players.

“The other dark horse, I would say, in the conversation for Spurs is Harvey Barnes too,” Jacobs said. “So, there may be an opportunity for a double raid.”

He added: “I think Harvey Barnes to Spurs is going to grow legs over the coming weeks.”

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Barnes is another player who has excelled at Leicester this season, despite the fact the club have dropped down to the Championship.

The 24-year-old netted 13 times in the Premier League this season while providing one assist in just 34 appearances.

He’s a player who has been on Spurs’ radar in the past and he looks set to leave the King Power Stadium this summer.

Leicester are reportedly set to demand around £50 million for the winger though and if Spurs do end up landing Maddison, that would mean they’d have to spend around £100 million to sign the duo.

That seems highly unlikely at this moment in time as Tottenham will be prioritising defensive reinforcements as well as a replacement for their club captain Hugo Lloris.

Much will depend on how many players Spurs can get out the door this summer, with the club facing the task of trimming a bloated squad.